
Jim 
Aabshall'8 

New 

PlANNEB 



AMD OTHER 



,-- 



Westerk Stories ; 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap. Copyright No. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




WILLIAM DEVERE, 



Tramp Poet of the West." 



Jim MARSHALL'S 

New Pianner 

AND 

OTHER WESTERN 
STORIES. 

(Specially Adapted for Public Reading.) 

BY y 
WILLIAM DEVERE, 

"TRAMP POET OF THE WEST," 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DOLPH LEVINO AND 
J. MORNINGSTAR. 



M. WITMARK & S0NS^'^^^^1'| 



New York, Chicago and London. 
1897. 



T6 i^Vs 



Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the 
year 1897, ^Y 

M. WiTMARK & Sons, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at 
Washington, D. C. 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ENGLISH COPYRIGHT SECURED. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Black Hills Sermon (A) 57-63 

B. P. O. E 116-118 

'Ceptin' Ike 64- 69 

Charity, Justice, Brotherly L-ove and Fidelity 1 19-12 1 

Case Equal (A) 122-125 

Give the Devil his Due 55- 56 

Hey, Rube , 19-21 

Higgins 22-30 

He Can — Like Kelly Can 43- 45 

His Letter 46- 49 

Horse Philosophy • . . 70- 74 

Jim Marshall's New Planner 6-13 

Jeff and Joe 109-115 

Kinder Susp'shus 33- 36 

No Opening — Write Again 78- 86 

Offty Gooff s Methuselahism 31- 32 

Parson's Box (The) 37- 42 

Queen of Hearts (The) 103-105 

Roger. . 99-102 

Spokane 129-130 

That Queen 75-77 

Throw the Inkstand at 'em, Johnny . . . . 87-89 

Two Little Busted Shoes 90- 95 

Ten Mile or Bust 96-98 

Tragedy (A) 105 

That Beautiful Snow 106-108 

Walk 50-54 

What t' 'ell 126-128 

You're jest like yer Mother, Mandy ... . 14-18 



TO MY ILLUSTRATORS. 



DOLPH Lkvino, Esq., 

Dear Friend : — You have grasped the true 
iuspiration of western humor, and your illustra- 
tions (while they are but the reproduction of scenes 
familiar to yourself ' , are j ust the very thing needed 
to vivify these wild and uncouth stories. I thank 
you from the bottom of my heart for your fidelity 
to detail, and with best wishes for you and yours, 

I am, 

Your friend, 

WM. DEVERE. 



Mr. J. MORNINGSTAR, 

Dear Sir : — I am deeply indebted to j^ou for 
your fine sketches, illustrations of life in the west, 
contributed to this little book. They are in the right 
spirit and evince an artistic skill that is gratefully 
acknowledged by 

Yours sincerely, 

WM. DEVERE. 



PREFACE. 



Kind Reader : 

This humble volume is intended to be simplj' a 
rough chronicle of some vivified wild and woolj^ 
western stories, and is based upon events that have 
occurred in the sub-strata of western life. The 
characters, as well as the incidents, are all true, 
as can be attested by many of my readers. I make 
no apology for the vernacular, the diction or the 
syntax, and if among the debris you can extract a 
few grains of pure gold, my mission will have been 
accomplished. Some of my characters are still 
living. The most of them occupy positions of trust, 
some few of them are still prospecting in the 
Rockies or on the deserts of the Wild West. Some 
sleep in unmarked graves upon the mountain side 
amid the crooning of the Pignon Pines. They 
were all my friends. I knew no bad men in the 
west ; they all had many good traits about them, 
and the roughest of them were the most charitable. 
They made unchronicled history. The history of 
the mining camp is nearly obsolete. We may find a 
few that are reached by rail, but the old mining 
camp reached by the Concord Coach or the ' ' Freigh- 
ter" is fast passing away. To the living actors 
who took part in those scenes this book will bring 
maii}^ a kind remembrance, and to them, with all of 
its imperfections, I bequeath it. 

WM. DEVERH. 

New York City, May 1, 1897. 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 




JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER. 

iJUllllHJI WAS 'way above the old San Juan that 
me and big Bud Beedles 
Located — near the San Miguil — a camp 

we called ' 'The Needles. ' ' 
There wasn't many on us there, 
Tom Kane, and Tim McCarty, Cap Flagler, 

Riley Lambert, and Lish Rowe made up the 

party 
To celebrate a grand event, as ever you sot eyes on, 
In Tommy Gretto's little tent, where he dispensed 

the pizen. 
Jim Marshall 'd been plugged up by some on us to 

go and send for 
A bran new pianna fortay, and bring it up from 

Denver. 
Zeb Taylor, a Missourian, as miserable a sinner 
As ever crossed the Cimmaron, or posed as a "mule 

skinner," 
Had brought the box from Silverton, right thro' 

in his freight wagon, 
And we turned out to celebrate its advent, with 

a jag on. 



8 JIM MARSHALL'S NBW PIANlsmR 

Walt Fletcher, a darned lively cuss, as funny and 

as frisky, 
Who at the best done nothing wuss than punish 

barb- wire whisky; 
Clabe, Jones, Tom Hudson, Burrill Wade, Old 

Creek and Tommy Tanner, 
Was members of the committee, to welcome the 

Pianner. 
We all dropped into Gretto's tent, first one and 

then the t'other. 
We put away one poultice, and then paralyzed 

another, 
We opened up the box and we tore off the paper 

I'ning, 
And there the new Pianner stood, a-glistening and 

a-shining. 
We sot it in the corner, just as tender as a brother. 
And then we took another drink, and then — we took 

another. 
And Walter Fletcher, he remarked "as how he'd 

hate to say it, 
We'd got an elephant, for not a cuss know'd how 

to play it. " 
Clabe Jones, allowed that "he would sing, if we 

could find a fakir. ' ' 
But none of us dare touch the thing, for if we did, 

we'd break her. 
And Burrill Wade, he said that "back in Maine he 

had a sister 
That could play theSuannee River till 'would knock 

us all a twister. ' ' 



AND OTHER STORIES. 9 

Lish Rowe allowed "he know'd a gal 'tcould play 

the 'Maiden's Prayer' 
Till you could close your eyes and swar you'd 

climbed the 'Golden Stair.' " 
But just about this minute something happened, 

that I think 
Would make Salvation Army saints swar off and 

take to drink. 
Tom's tent front door blew open, and a figger hove 

in sight 
That made each one of us to doubt it if we was just 

all right. 
A cuss, dressed in a canvas coat, a hat cut filagree, 
A pair of pants, half-soled and heeled, a shirt d — d 

negligee. 
His nose, like a peeled onion, a regular cherry red. 
And eyes all bleared and bloodshot, seemed a bustin' 

from his head , 
A regular mountain nomad, whom nobody knew in 

camp. 
The ne plus ultra specimen of a biped called the 

tramp. 
We looked at him, he looked at us, and then his 

gaze turned whar, 
Six glasses of red licker stood, on Tommy Gretto's 

bar, 
He landed one beneath his belt, just like a mornin' 

bracer, 
And then another followed suit, wo't Lish Row'd 

call a "chaser," 



■lO 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. II 

Then, wiping off his lips with an old ragged, red 

bandanna, 
He planked himself right down in front of Mar- 
shall's new pianner. 
None on us spoke, we held our breath, for just 

about a minute. 
And when he hit them ' ivories we all knowed that 

he was in it. 
He thundered off "Boulanger's March," you bet, it 

was a daisy. 
And then he hit a reel that nigh knocked Tim 

McCarty crazy. 
And then he run the gamut up to "Comin' Thro' 

the Rye," 
And played "Stick to Your Mother, Tom," until 

he made us cry; 
"The Gates Ajar" until I'd swear I heard the 

angels singin' , 
Then with old "Johnny Get Your Gun" he sot the 

rafters ringin'. 
He played "The Song that Reached My Heart," 

till Burrill Wade went loony 
He rattled "Playmates" off, and then he switched 

to "Annie Rooney." 
At handlin' Mendelsohn, you can bet he was a lily. 
He resurrected "Wagner," and knocked old "Blind 

Tom" silly. 
He played "The Sad Sea Waves" until you'd think 

you heard them sobbin', 
And then he trilled that "Old Scotch Air" of 

"Won't You Tell Me, Robin," 



12 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

He swayed around the "Blue Danube" and "Old 

Waldtyfle" too, 
Then "The Star Spangled Banner" and the old 

"Red, White and Blue." 

He wandered thro' "The Miserere," and thundered 
the "TeDeum." 

Until I thought of "Eddie Pleiss" and Hank Cline's 

Coliseum. 
He played a skit from "Aida," that just woke up 

"Tommy Gretto," 
Who hollered out "Bravissimo, Decapo, Allegretto." 
He thundered o'er the treble, with a rattle and a 

roar, 
We heard a crash, and like a flash, he vanished 

thro' the door 
We made a rush to stop him, but he vamoosed in a 

wink, 
We stood a moment dumbfounded, and then — we 

took a drink. 



The Needles camp is busted, "Burrell Wade's" in 
Kansas City, 

"Tom Kane" shot "Riley lyambert," and was 
"strangled," more's the pity, 

"Clabe Jones" is down in Mexico, a stealin' Texas 
meat. 

And "Walter Fletcher's" writin' songs in Forty- 
seventh street. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



13 



"Cap. Flagler's in Durango, I am dallying with the 

drama, 
"Jim Marshall's jiimpin' corner lots, way down in 

Oklahoma, 
"Lish Rowe" he takes his Bourbon straight, when 

he goes on a bust, 
"Tom Gretto's" out in 'Frisco, still looking for the 

dust, 
"Old Creek" is up in Ogden, and the saints snared 

' 'Tommy Tanner," 
And a dance hall up in Rico captured Marshall's 

"New Planner." 




14 JIM MARSHALL S NEW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 1 5 




YOU'RE JEST LIKE YER I>10THER, 
I^AINDY." 

To T. J. O'Neil, Esq., of Portland, Maine. 

OU'RE jest like yer mother, Mandy, 
an' most alius hev yer way, 
So you're going down to the city, an' 

a goin' down there to stay; 
Wall, mebbe it's fur the best; but 
then the sun wont shine so bright, 
For after you're gone away, gal, I'll miss you day 

an' night. 
But you say you're tired of ploddin' an' worrin' all 

the day. 
An' you're jest like yer mother, Mandy, an' mo.st 
alius hev yer way. 

Speakin' about yer mother, the mornin' that she 

died 
I went in the big front bed room, an' I knelt down 

by her side. 



1 6 JIM MARSHALL'S NKW PIANNER 

All' I asked the good Lord to spare her an' to leave 

her for me to love, 
But I reckon he kinder needed her in the mansion 

up above. 
She 'lowed she thought 'twas better for her to go 

than stay, 
An' you're jest like yer mother, Mandy, an' most 

alius hev yer way. 

She said that the good Lord willed it, an' she said 

"His will be done," 
Then she asked me to shove the curtains back and 

let in the warm bright sun. 
So't she could look at the dear green fields whar she 

had passed her life 
Ever since the day old Parson Brown pronounced 

us man an' wife. 
An' she told me to guard an' protect you, an' to 

cherish you every day, 
But you're just like yer mother, Mandy, an' most 

alius hev yer way, 

I promised her I'd guard ye an' protect ye from all 

harm. 
Then I felt her tears a streamin' down over my 

cheeks so warm. 
An' then she tried to comfort me an' whispered 

"God is love," 
An' when I arose your mother had gone to the 

Saviour up above. 



AND OTHKR STORIES. 1 7 

Since then you've been my comfort, but you're 

goin' away to stay, 
Fur you're jest like yer mother, Mand}^, an' most 

alius hev yer way. 



I've worked an' toiled fur forty year to trj- an' im- 
prove the farm, 

Fur I wanted to have a home for you to protect 3'ou 
from all harm, 

I've toiled an' sweat in the harvest field when the 
summer days was hot, 

A tryin' to fight a mortgage off'n an eighty acre 
lot. 

An' nov; it all belongs to you, you're just eighteen 
to-day, 

An' you're jest like yer mother, Mandy, an' most 
alius hev yer way. 

Of course you'll be happier, Mandy, in your bright 

new city home, 
An' you'll laru to forget your poor old dad that's 

sorrowin' here alone, 
You'll meet up with companions who will be more 

to your mind. 
An' perhaps you'll forget yer mother's grave an' 

the friends you have left behind. 
But my blessin's shall go with you an' protect you 

where you stray, 
Fur you're jest like yer mother, Mandy, an' most 

alius hev yer way. 



1 8 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

What's that? You aint goin' , Mandy, jest foolin', 

eh? I'm so glad, 
Well, this will be the happiest day your old dad 

ever had, 
An' I believe yer mother's spirit looks down on us 

from above, 
An' I seem to hear her angel voice a whisperin* 

"God is love." 
What's that? 'You'll never leave me? You'll 

always with me stay, 
Wal, you're jest like yer mother, Mandy, an' most 

alius hev yer way. 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



19 




<i 



HEY RUBE." 



[Note. — Hey Rube is the war-cry with a Circus 
which calls every man to the scene of action. 




WAS j ust about ten years ago, 
Too early yet for ice or snow, 
Thro' bounteous Texas coming 

down, 
A circus with a funu}^ clown, 

" Hey Rube." 



20 JIM MARSH ALI<'S NEW PIANNER 

The boys warii't feeling very well, 

The reason why I cannot tell, 

And as they "made" each little town 

They whispered (when the ' ' gawks ' ' came 

'"°""^^ "Hey Rube." 

They didn't say it, mind you now, 
But if you scanned each frowning brow, 
When pestered by some " Budgy guy" 
You'd almost read it in their eye, 

"Hey Rube." 
It's but a little phrase, 'tis true. 
Its meaning well each "fakir" knew. 
And e'en the weakest heart was stirred 
At mention of that magic word, 

"Hey Rube." 

"They'll eat you up in this 'ere town, 
The boys'll tear you circus down." 
Thus spoke a man with hoary head, 
The "main guy" winked and softly said, 

"Hey Rube." 

They gathered 'round, about two score, 
I am not sure but there were more. 
Red-hot and eager for the fray. 
The boys all thought, but didn t say, 

"Hey Rube." 
The ball was opened, like a flash. 
Above the battle s din and dash, 
As thunderbolt hurled from the sk}-, 
Rang long and loud the battle-cry, 

"Hey Rube." 



AJSTD OTHER .STORIES. 



21 



'Twas but a moment — in they went, 
Kach man on life and death intent. 
They periled there both life and limb, 
'Twas wonderful to hear them sing, 

"Hey Rube." 

*Twas finished, the smoke rolled awaj'. 
As clouds before the sun's bright ray. 
That Texan chivalry were gone — 
They couldn' t sing that circus song, 

"Hey Rube." 

MORAL. 

"Gawks," "guys" and "Rubes" another day, 
When e"er a circus comes your way. 
And you are spilein* for a " dim," 
Be sure they haven't learned to sing, 

"Hey Rube." 




22 JIM MARSHALL'S NKW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 2$ 



HICGINS. 

Respectfully Inscribed to "Al" Smith, Esq. 

Know Higgins, Tom Higgins of Lewiston ? 

That old Bohemian "Son of a Gun," 

I reckon I did, and I'll say right here, 

That Higgins could drop, from wine, to beer, 

With the easy grace of a millionaire, 

And a smile that was bright, and debonair e, 

He could play two deuces pat at bluff. 

Could " crack a bottle," or " blow his stuff/' 

A Chesterfield in the dance's whirl, 

For he loved a horse, and adored a girl. 

His early life had been passed out West, 

Where each man reaches his level best. 

*And I heard an old timer from out there say, 
That Higgins was riding along one day, 
Down near the foot of I^a Vita pass, 
His Broncho nipping the Buffalo grass. 
That grew by the trail on the mottled sod. 
When a half breed known as " Cherokee Bob," 
Came riding along the other way. 
And he stopped, and bantered Higgins to play 



*Tbis don't go if Higgins sees IC. 



24 JIM MARSHALL'S NKW PIANNER 

A little game for money or blood, 

That was known down there, as " round table stud." 

Now 1 said that Higgins was always game, 

And the " Cherookee " 'd hardly gave it a name, 

When Higgins swung from his saddle tree. 

With the simple remark of " That means me." 

With a Navajo blanket spread out on the groiind, 

And a pack of cards, they both sat down. 

They cut for the deal, and Higgins won, 

And the cards were shuffled, the game begun. 

Cherokee Bob scanned his buried card. 

With never a trace on his visage hard. 

Next a six showed up, and for Higgins a Tray, 

The half breed cautiously made a play. 

It was called by Higgins, who dealt once more, 

When the Cherokee got * ' an ace in the door, ' ' 

And the half breed made a brash to play. 

When Higgins turned over another tray. 

Two trays in sight, it was Higgins bet. 

With a nervous pull at his cigarette. 

He gently said ' ' I will bet my all. 

Cash, broncho, pistols, you dare not call," 

But the Cherokee quietly smiled at that, 

And remarked, "Well, I'll tap you for blanket and 

; hat." 
Off came the hat, and the blanket went in, 
Either one or the other must lose or win. 
Higgins knew naught of the Roentgen's rays, 
That the half breed's buried card beat two Trays. 



AND OTHKR STORIES. 



25 



So he finislied the deal, didn't better his hand, 
And the Cherokee sitting there smiling and bland, 
Turned over an ace as he finished the play, 
Then packed up his plunder, and rode away. 




And remarked to Higgins, as he looked back, 
" It is better walking the right hand track." 
But Higgins, sorrowfully scratched his head, 
Few and short were the words he said. 
You see he wasn't much given to talk. 
And he muttered, " Walk, you sucker, walk." 
And in after years, when the story he told, 
Of this game of " stud " in the land of gold," 
Where ' ' Charley Sumner, ' ' and ' ' Maxwell ' ' and 

♦•Kim," 
And " Kitt}^ O'Connell " perhaps dropped in, 
With " Thompson," " The Spider," and " Old Jim 

Cobb," 
That he thought that the half breed was only a 

slob. 



26 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 27 

But would never again bet two Trays so hard, 

Unless he was ' ' next to the buried card. ' ' 

And he said that he felt as he walked away, 

Across the plains, on that sunny day. 

That if he had only a mask and a gun, 

He would open a game in which he could have won, 

And would hold up a stage outside the town, 

And compel them to throw the strong box down. 

But one more story I'm going to tell, 

A hard luck story, that once befell, 

Tom Higgins in Maine, at Old Orchard Beach, 

A place that the tourist loves to reach, 

"When the game closed. 

The lights burned brightly overhead. 

The table, whereon the layout was spread. 

And the players nervously shu£9.ed their checks. 

Some looking cheery, and others vexed, 

While the * ' lookout ' ' lazily lolled in his chair, 

And his cigarette smoke melted into the air 

Of the spacious room, while the busy click, 

Of the casekeeper, like a watch's tick. 

Told off the cards, as they lost, or won, 

And the dealer, sitting there silent and glum, 

Dealt, paid, and took as the bets were laid, 

And never a tremor his feelings betrayed, 

But Higgins — I started to speak of him, 

In front of the dealer cool and grim. 

Was playing the limit at every turn. 

To doubles and single, his bright eyes bum, 

With anticipation of what he'll do, 

When he's won them all, every red, white and blue; 



28 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

Of the bottles he'll crack, of the songs he'll sing, 

And of Maudies's laugh with its merry ring, 

As they sit vis-a-vis and they merrily sip. 

Of the sparling Champagne that caresses the lip 

Of the loveliest creature beneath the Sun, 

The one that he loves, and the only one, 

For so he believes, while her arms entwine, 

And her lips bedewed with the rosy wine. 

Are pressed to his, in one mad caress, 

One moment of Heavenly blessedness 

While her bosom heaves, and his senses reel. 

And her ivory arms around him steal. 

And Maudie swears she loves only him, 

And the bubbles dance on the wine glass brim, 

As they pledge each other in seething wine. 

And float in an ecstacy divine. 

Another deluge of pink champagne, 

And they pledge each other again and again, 

While Maudie — warbling an aria clear, — 

Is striving to kick the chandelier. 

And the rustling swish of the filmy lace. 

Is swirling and whirling around the place. 

As she sways and whirls and piroettes, 

Through the curling smoke of the cigarettes. 

Until quite o'ercome with display of charms. 

She falls with a sigh into Higgins arms, 

And forgets the world, in a dream of bliss. 

And one long lingering loving kiss, and the game 

closed. 
But Higgins — I wanted to speak of him, — 
The Mohammedan heaven that he was in, 



AND OTHER STORIES. 29 

Had vanished away to a little speck, 
For he found he had only one red check, when the 
game closed. 

Only one red check, just to represent 
The follies and ills of a life misspent, 
How many hopes and how many fears, 
How many blessings, how many tears, 
How many fortunes and how many ills. 
How many dollars and how many mills. 
How many beginnings, how many ends, 
How many enemies, how many friends. 
How many murders, how many lives, 
How many sweethearts and how many wives. 
How many smiles, and how many sighs, 
How many truths, and how many lies, 
How many kisses, how many frowns. 
How many ups, and how many downs, 
All that we hope for, or have, or expect. 
Were centered alone in this one red check, when 
the game closed. 

And Higgins, (its funny I drift from my theme, 

And float off in some philosophic dream,) 

Well, Higgins! cooly picked up the red check, 

And walked from the room, with a carriage erect. 

Cash In! Ah no, for that one red check. 

Must represent a financial wreck. 

He'd keep it for thoughts that he once had prized, 

For dreams that he never had realized, 

For seeds of sin that he'd often sown. 

For hopes that were hopeless, and turned to stone, 



30 



JIM MARSHALL S NEW PIANNER 



And he sauntered down to the ocean's brink, 

And sat down a moment to ponder and think, 

There he fell asleep and he dreamed of the girl. 

With the starlit eye, and the shimmering curl, 

Of Maudie the all in all to him, 

An hour passed on and the tide came in. 

And stole around his weary feet 

But still he dreamed of a bliss complete, 

Rich, or poor, but little he'd reck, 

This slumbering dreamer, with one red check. 

When the game closed. 




tne Cf/si^t 



AND OTHER STORIES. 




''OFFTY COOFT'S METHUSELAHISM." 

OST thou remember the happy hours, 
When I was thy youthful beau, 
How we laughed and chaffed in the 

daisy bowers, 
Eight hundred Years ago? 

When the brightest of futures before us lay, 
One hopeful delicious track, 
And I was a dude not a bit blase 
A few trifling centuries back? 

Can' st thou recall the fond days of yore, 
Our travels on land and sea, 
When I was a hundred and and twenty- four 
And you were just ninety-three? 

Can' st thou summon up in thy mind afresh 
The charms of our love divine. 
When you were a hundred and eighty- two 
And I was two hundred and nine? 

Ah, then did our love supremely thrive, 
We lived in a mutual heaven, 
When you were three hundred and eighty-five, 
And I was four hundred and seven. 



7>'2 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 



Can' St thou remember the happy days, 
For old age makes memory sad, 
When you were about eight hundred and eight. 
The first kick that we ever had. 

When upon my head you broke a plate, 

A job that was neatly done, 

In the year of your life, eight hundred and eight, 

And of mine nine hundred and one? 

But we're nearing the thousand now, my dear, 

We no longer are j'oung and strong. 

Old age is beginning to tell. I fear 

That we cannot linger long. 

Those happy days are forever passed, 
The happiest bards have sung, 
And I see death coming with mind aghast 
For its sad to die so young. 




AND OTHKR STORIES. 33 




KINDER SUSP'SHUS. 



E oughtn't a dun it. It wasn't jest 
right, 
But wen he dropped inter ther Camp 

on that night, 
Some one on the gang made a quiet 
remark 
'T he wasn't a miner 'r wasn't a shark, 

But he looked kinder susp'shus. 

He'd legs all the world like a Sandy Hill crane, 
An' his head wuz bare- footed, denotin' no brain; 
He wuz wearin' dude clothes, an' had on striped 

socks, 

An' over his shoulder he'd slung a black box 
That looked kinder susp'shus. 

He throwed down two bits on Lem Givison's bar, 
An' asked fur a Key West Estrellar cigar; 
An' then he sot-down in the corner to rest, 
An' he pushed that black box right in front of his 
breast. 

Which looked kinder susp'shus. 



34 



JIM MARSHAU/S NKW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



35 




36 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 



An' arg'ment riz about "round table stud," 
Which looked ez if it might hev ended in blood. 
Each man hed hiz eye right on the other one, 
Aji' every man thar hed hiz han' on hiz gun, 

An' it looked kinder susp'shus. 

The room wuz so still, 3^ou could hear a watch tick, 
When that feller's black box gin a sharp, sudden 

click, 
An' ten "forty-five's" opened out with a roar, 
An' the remnants were scattered around on the floor, 
An' it looked kinder susp'shus. 

We buried the pieces, all that \ve could see. 
Out thar in the gulch, by that old pi"non tree. 
With a card from his pocket, — itsstickin' thar yet — 
"Snap Kodak Artist, Gazootville Gazette," 

An' it looks kinder susp'shus. 




AND OTHER STORIES. 37 




"THE PARSON'S BOX," 

A TALK OF THE SAN JUAN. 

NO WED Parson Hogue, well I 
should say, 
I saw the parson the very day 
He sot his foot in the Bank 
Exchange 

And asked Jess Potts from across the range, 
How business was and I heard Jess say 
That he hadn't turned a card that day. 
There was "Curly McBride," who ran the wheel, 
And "Fletch" at the tub hadn't made a spiel, 
Old "Sarge" who'd sot there many a night, 
With ace in the hole, and the cuter in sight, 
And old Jim Pencel and Jim McCabe 
With "Nutshell Bill" and Burr ill Wade, 
Jim Russell (the lawyer) who'd play a hand 
Or plead a case for the Rio Grande. 
Big "Tex," !'Ike Stockton," who stood off "Coe,'^ 
When he brought the gang from New Mexico, 
To take "Hargue Eskridge" and "Dyson's" lives. 
But the boys went out with their "forty-fives" 
And Winchesters, and they called them down 
On the mesa outside of Durango town. 



38 



JIM MARSHALIv'S NEW PIANNER 



We were sittin' round when the parson came, 
Each dealer a loafing with ne'er a game, 
When the parson entered and made this crack, 
And "Jess Potts" answered the parson back, 




For none of us was supposed to know 
That we had a parson in Durango. 
We was all of us partial to cards and rum 
And we didn't go much on "Kingdom come." 



AND OTHER STORIES. 39 

We could play two deuces, pat at bluff, 

But we didn't savy "Sky Pilot's" guff, 

So when we heard the parson say 

That he had a game which he'd like to play, 

If he had the lay-out and we had time, 

"Jess Potts" got up and said he " take mine," 

And we gathered 'round just to hear the spiel, 

When the parson should shuffle up and deal. 

He scanned the crowd with a knowing look. 

And then from his pocket he took a book. 

And remarked, "Now boys, if you're satisfied, 

I've a little game called Christ Crucified," 

And he picked out a text called "God is love," 

And he told us we had a father above, 

And if we would only believe and pray. 

That he'd be our friend on the judgment da3\ 

He said each one was invited in 

And that charity covered a heap of sin. 

He spoke of the friends we had left behind. 

Of our sisters, our mothers and brothers kind. 

Our sweethearts and wives whom we loved the best, 

Whom we kissed and hugged when we came out 

West, 
And he said they remembered our last good-bye, 
There were tears just then in old "Sarges" ejxs. 
For he thought of his loved ones far-away. 
And just then the parson said "let us pray." 

And he knelt and prayed while we stood around, 
With heads uncovered and ne'er a sound 
But the parson's voice in that gambling hall, 
As he asked forgiveness for one and all. 



40 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 4 1 

I've seen many scenes in my western life 

Of joy, and sorrow, and care, and strife. 

But none could compare with the one that day, 

When old Parson Hogue said "let us pray." 

He finished and said the last amen. 

Shook hands all around, said he'd call again, 

But "Burrill Wade" said, "Just stand pat," 

And off from his head came his old slouch hat, 

With a yellow fiver he made a bluff, 

And he said to the gang "dig up the stuff." 

Down went each hand and the money fell, 

For all of us liked the old parson well. 

We filled his pockets with gold galore. 

And asked him to call again once more. 

Not a game in the house but won that day, 

After the parson came in to pray. 

And preached from the text called "God is love." 

So we built him a church on the mesa above, 

And we bought him a bell that would ring and 

clang. 
And every Sunday the whole of the gang 
Would knock off dealing, leave all in the lurch. 
Shut up the joints and all go to church, 
We'd list while the parson preached and prayed. 
For he didn't give cant or rhodomontade. 
He was something like parson "Tom Uzzell," 
Stood pat on heaven, but "sluffed" on hell: 
His sermon was short and right to the point, 
Then we all went back and opened the joint, 
And we dealt and played and put up our rocks, 
And we nailed up a thing called the parson's box, 



42 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 



With a hole on top just to sHp checks through, 
When anyone won why he'd put in a blue, 
And some would drop in a red or a white 
According as luck had behaved that night. " 
When a man would cash in the dealer would say, 
"Pards, the parson's box is across the way," 
And when the games all closed for the night, 
We would cash the parson s checks all right. 

Now the parson lives in Durango still. 

And he knows "Sam, Harry, Tom, Jerry and Bill' 

By name, and if you would be in vogue, 

You must always speak well of old Parson Hogue. 

He draws his salary just the same 

From the parson's box in each faro game. 

At good short sermons he's dead in line, 

And with faith and virtue he'll always shine. 

He knows just how to preach and pray, 

And can teach a poor sinner the narrow way. 

Just one word more, and that's what knocks, 

There's always stuff in the parson's box. ^ 




AND OTHER STORIES. 43 



"HE CAN-LIKE KELLY CAN." 

J. W. Kelly was my friend, he died a year ago, 

But when he was alive, there were few things he 
didn't know. 

He could write and sing an Irish song as good as 
anyone. 

And not a man could touch him on a story or a pun. 

But one thing used to bother me, when I'd his pres- 
tige claim, 

Some other man would tell me, that he could do 
just the same, 

Or else he'd point across the street and say, there 
goes a man. 

Who can tell an Irish story or a joke like Kelly can. 

He can — like Kelly can — he can — like Kelly can, 

And then I'd look at him and say, he can — like 
Kelly can. 

'Twould make you laugh when Kelly sang, the 

"Songs my mammy sang," 
Or the song aboitt "TimToolan," when he was an 

alderman. 
He'd tell about a Dutchman and Patrick's day 

parade, 
And when he sang that "German Band," it put all 

in the shade. 



44 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANN^R 



He never had a threadbare joke, no chestnuts did he 

throw, 
But the people all around would laugh, perhaps an 

hour or so. 




And after he had finished, some idiot of a man, 
Would say, why I can tell that joke the same as 

Kelly can. 
He can — like Kelly can, he can — like Kelly can, 
Now don't you all agree with me, he can — like 

Kelly can. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



45 



There was "Throw him down McClosky," and 

"Comedown Mrs. Flynn,'' 
And that glorious old come all ye, called the "Old 

Lakes of Cool Finn," 
J. W. Kelly wrote them, and could sing them like a 

bird, 
And when he told about a bum, you'd laugh at 

every word, 
What's more he'd give a dollar to the needy and 

distressed. 
And many a lone widow, Johnnie Kelly's name has 

blessed. 
And now that he has passed away, I'd ask if any 

man. 
Can boast of half a million friends, the same as 

Kelly can. 
He can — like Kelly can. He can — like Kelly can, 
I've only one thing more to say, He can — like 

Kelly can. 









46 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNKR 



r 



^ ^^ «5j 



^ ^ 



4 



r 



^ X 



f 



^ ^ 
^ 



4 



r ^ 



CJi 



1 






^ ^ t f ^ 



•f f 



J 






-I r 



"3 

1 






AND OTHER STORIES. 



47 



HIS LETTER. 




WAS conning over letters, of the 
olden, golden time, 

Some were cramped and business 
laden, 

Others breathed in song and rhyme. 
Some were delicately perfumed. 
Others faded with old age, 
And by chance I came upon the one, upon the other 

page. 
Just a business sort of letter, of chirography the best, 
From a man we loved to honor, 
In "the wild and wooly west." 
"Gene" Field, the great warm-hearted one, 
And here I wish to say 
They never knew his sterling worth, 
Until he'd passed away. 
And I closed my eyes and pondered 
Oe'r his jingles, and his rhymes, 
'Till I seemed to hear the crooning. 
Of the Colorado pines. 

With "Winken" "Blinken" and with "Nod" 
I seemed to be afloat. 
Then I dined on Red Horse Mountain, 
At old "Casey's Table dHote'" 



48 JIM MARSHALL'S NKW PIANNER 

I wandered into "Sorry Tom's" 

To pass an hour away, 

With "Hoover" and "Bill Gillam" 

A t the ' ' Conversazionay . ' ' 

I saw "Modjeskay as Kameel" 

Down at the "Tabor Grand" 

When old "Three-Fingered Hoover" 

"lyOwed that he would take a hand. 

When "Sampson" and "Bill Stapleton" 

Adjourned across the way, 

From "Hoover's gun, and dallied, 

With a green abs i nthe frappe 

"The clinking of the ice" 

One of the sweetest songs I heard, 

A sequel to the story. 

Of "a Bottle and a Bird." 

The little old "bench-legged fyst," 

The gang all used to know, 

Down on the old Missouri, 

In the City of St. Joe, 

Where "Colonel Will S. Visscher" 

From the town of Moberly, 

Came down to write the City up. 

And came in C. O. D. 

And the Children, Heaven bless them, 

How they loved him one and all. 

And how they'd all come trooping. 

At his friendly beck and call. 

"Polly," "Molly," "Dick" and "Charley" 

"Johnny," "Cherry," "Bob" and "Sue" 

How they listened to the story. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 

Of that sweet "Uttle Boy Blue." 
As I wander through the reflex, 
Of the ever-changing years, 
I know the ink was watered. 
With the poet's loving tears. 
God bless that dear Bohemian, 
God bless his rhymes and runes, 
God bless the nature that could drop, 
From Strawberries to prunes, 
And so I've kept his letter 
And I've placed it on the page. 
Where my eyes can always see it, 
Though they may grow dim with age. 



49 




50 



JIM MARSHALL'S NKW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 5 1 




"WALK." 

FROM JUDGE COLE'S STORY. 

•P the dusty road from Denver town 
To where the mines their treasures 

hide, 
The road is long, and many miles 
The golden sty re and town divide. 

Along this road, one summer's day. 

There toiled a tired man, 

Begrimmed with dust, the weary way 

He cussed, as some folks can. 

The stranger hailed a passing team 

That slowly dragged it's load along ; 

His hail roused up the teamster old 

And checked his merry song, 

"Say-y stranger!" "Wal, whoap," 

"Ken I walk behind your load 

A spell in this road?" 

"Wal no' yer can't walk, but git 

Up on this seat an' ride; git up hyer." 

"Nop, that ain't what I want, 

Fur it's in yer dust, that's like a smudge, 

I want to trudge, for I desarve it." 

"Wal, pards, I ain't no hog, an' I don't 
Own this road afore, nor 'hind. 



52 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNKR 

So jest git right in the dust 
An' walk, if that's the way yer dined. 
Gee up, ger lang!" the driver said. 
The creaking wagon moved amain, 
While close behind the stranger trudged 
And clouds of dust rose up again. 

The teamster heard the stranger talk 
As if two trudged behind his van. 
Yet, looking 'round, could only spy 
A single lonely man, 
Yet heard the teamster words like these 
Come from the dust as from a cloud, 
For the weary traveler spoke his mind. 
His thoughts he uttered loud. 
And this the burden of his talk: 

"Walk, now, you , walk! 

Not the way you went to Denver? 
Walk , ! Jest walk ! 

"Went up in the mines an' made yer stake, 
'Nuff to take yer back to ther state 
Whar yer wur born. 
Whar'n hell's yer corn? 
Wal, walk, you , walk! 

"Dust in yer eyes, dust in yer nose, 
Dust down your throat, and thick 
On yer clothes. Can't hardly talk? 
I know it, but walk, you , walk! 

"What did yer do with all yer tin? 
Ya-s, blew every cent of it in; 



AND OTHER STORIES. 53 

Got drunk, got sober, got drunk agin. 
Wal, Walk, ! Jest walk. 

"What did yer do? What didn't yer do? 
Why, when ye war thar, yer gold dust flew, 
Yer thought it fine ter keep op'nin' wine. 
Now walk, you , walk, 




" KtM f YVAIK mm YOIJR LOAD 

"Stop ter drink? What — water? 

Why thar 

Water with you warn' t anwhere. 

'Twas wine. Extra Dry. Oh, 

You flew high — 

Now walk, you walk. 

"Chokes yer, this dust? Wal, that 
Ain't the wust. 
When yer get back whar the 
Diggins are 



54 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

No pick, no shovel, no pan; 

Wal, yer a healthy man, 

Walk — jest walk." 

The fools don't all go to Denver town, 

Nor do they all from the mines come down. 

Most all of us have, in our day — 

In some sort of shape, some kind of way— 

"Painted the town with the old stuff," 

"Dipped in stocks or made some bluff, 

Mixed wines old and new, 

Got caught in wedlock by a shrew, 

Stayed out all night, tight. 

Rolled home in the morning light. 

With crumpled tie and torn clawhammer, 

'N' woke up next day with a katzen jammer," 

And walked. Oh , how we walked 

Now, don't try to yank every bun, 
Don't try to have all the fun, 
Don't think that you know it all, 
Don't think real estate won't fall, 
Don't try to bluff on an ace. 
Don't get stuck on a pretty face. 
Don't believe every jay's talk — 
For if you do you can bet you'll walk! 




And other stories, 55 




"GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE." 

HE Devil has always been sorely 
abused, 
Of all of earth's evils he has been 

accused. 
And search where you may you can 
find but a few 
Who are willing to give to the Devil his due. 

Most people have always supposed it was right 
To slander the Devil and treat him with spite, 
To such the idea is entirely new 
Of honestly giving the Devil his due. 

Though preachers and bigots who think they are 

wise, 
Insultingly call him the father of lies, 
Yet they fail in the proof that their statements are 

true, 
Now be honest and give to the Devil his due. 

Therefore I suggest that we travel more slow, 
And give the old gent a fair kind of a show, 
Resolved in the start to keep justice in view, 
And give to the Devil whatever is due. 



56 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 



He taught our first parents to open their eyes, 
He told Mother Eve how she might become wise, 
And as every assertion on record proved true, 
Be honest and give to the Devil his due. 

He invented the telescope, put it in shape, 

And rung Galileo into a scrape ; 

And his eyes were put out by the bigoted few. 

Charge that to the church — give the Devil his due. 

He speckled old Job when he got on a spree, 
But the Lord took a hand as well as did he. 
'Twas a scurrilous job put up by the two. 
And only one-half to the Devil is due. 

True, in this one instance he did very wrong. 
But the Lord was in with it, he helped it along, 
Just size up the Devil, his faults are but few. 
And when you have finished just give him his due. 




AND OTHER STORIES. 57 




A BLACK HILL'S SERIVION. 

iROM Deadwood? well, yes sir, I reck- 
on; I've been just a year on the 
tramp, 
Not missin' a railroad excitement, or 
skippin' a good mining camp, 
I've sampled the country all over, and took in the 

"diggins" all 'round. 
And at last I've fetched up with the "Webfeet" 
way down here on old Puget Sound. 

Yes, Deadwood is dead, sure enough, sir ; as we 
say — "Too dead for to skin" — 

And there's not an old timer remainin', except a 
few stiffs that's snowed in. 

But there was a titne in that country, when every- 
thing was in full bloom. 

When licker was sold for a quarter a throw, and 
minin' was all on the boom. 

It was just about then that Tom Miller was grinding 

his little "Show Mill," 
With that partner ot his, Billy Nuttall, that the 

knowing ones called "Lanky Bill ;" 
It was thar, in their "show shop" one Sunday, that 

I heard a quaint sermon begun — 
The preacher "an old reformed gambler," and the 
. text he gave out, "The Prod Son." 



5^ 



JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIKS. 59 

The Prodigal Son was intended to call all these sin- 
ners to God, 

But the Preacher wa' n't partial to diction, so he just 
cut it down to "The Prod." 

He remarked that the "Gospel shark" dealin' this 
game is not present to-day, 

And he asked me to "shuffle a hand up so all of you 
suckers could play." 

"And right here," he continued, "this racket's a 

new game to me in this town, 
So just play it through; there's no Jimit; you'll 

never be told to take down. 
You will find in the big book there somewhere, just 

where I don't know yet myself — 
For at home we had one of them volumes, but we 

kept it laid up on the shelf — 

But you'll find the 'Prod Son' was a 'Young Kid' 

whose 'Ole Man' was pretty well heeled. 
He had plenty of 'stuff' in his 'leather,' and long 

horns and sheep in his field. 
It occurred to the kid that he'd tackle the old man 

for his little bit. 
And then he would pack up his grip sack and 

quietly get up and git. 

He asked the old man just to give him a portion of 

what he had got, 
And he wouldn't stay home there a waitin' till 

Death opened up a 'jack pot'; 
And the old man did give him his divy right down 

to an old postage stamp, 



6o JIM MARSHALL'S NKW PIANNER 

And the kid hollered 'over the river' , and ducked 
for the first mining camp. 

And he gathered 'the gang' all around him, all the 

bo3"S and girls he could see, 
And ever}^ one on em' got 'loaded,' and they had a 

great blow out and spree. 
They played the thing up to the limit, and took in 

each snoozer and bloke. 
Until they had run all the gamut, and the 'Prod 

Son' of course he was broke. 

The Good Book don't say, nor does history state, 

the game that he played in that place. 
But it's safe to suppose, my itinerant lambs, that 

'his Prodship' got steered agin brace. 
Be that as it may, it just bust him, and sent him 

right down to the dogs, 
And the very next thing that we hear of the 'Prod', 

he is livin' on husks with the hogs. 

It occurred to him then that his racket was hardly 

a one that could win. 
So he thought he'd go back to the old man, and try 

to blow him in agin. 
Now perhaps some on you unbelievers don't think 

that he welcomed his son, 
You may think he unchained the bull-dog, and just 

double-shotted the gun. 

But he didn't; he just killed a yearling to feed this 

durned ungrateful scamp, 
And he bought him the best sheeney suit of new 

clothes to be found in the whole miniu' camp. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



6l 




62 JIM maRvShall's new pianner 

And he got a blow-out and shindy, and everything 

went off slam bang. 
He invited the boozers and snoozers, the hobos and 

all of the gang; 

And the wine and the whisky flowed freely and 
they danced 'till the gray break of day, 

And the 'Prod Son' stood solid again boys, and 
further the Good Book don't say." 

Just then a big gambler, uprising, remarked, "Now, 
my friend, by your leave, 

There's a part of that old 'Prod Son' racket, that I 

cannot hardly believe; 
For there ain't in this camp a two-dealer, or man 

that will shake chuck-a-luck. 
If a sucker goes broke agin either, they won't give 

a case for his chuck. 
So that place in your sermonizing which says, 'He 

went down to the dogs, 
'And when he was needing a squarer, he had to eat 

husks with the hogs.' 
Don't seem to me just orthodoxy, and unless you 

say you was there, 
I don t mind telling you cold, pard, you're yarn 

isn' t on the dead square. ' ' 

The preacher just straightened himself up, and 
said, "Then you think that I'm preachin' a lie." 

And a forty-five cracked in a minute, and the big 
gambler s turn came to die. 

There were many old "blood purifiers" and "ex- 
pectorators of lead around." 



AND OTHER STORIEvS. 



63 



And when quiet was shortly restored some fifteen or 
twenty were dead. 

Then the preacher resumed, "Thar' 11 be preachin' 

next Sunday, at just 10 o'clock, 
We're gom' to run scripture teachin', right thro' 

here from soda to hoc. 
My text is the first Lord's commandment, and this 

is the rule I've laid down, 
To run this game easy and quiet, if I kill every 

sucker in town." 




^\\ ^ ^^^ti^ 



64 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNKR 




AND OTHER .STORIES. 65 




'CEPTIN' IKE. 

TO LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR LAL'GHTON. 

HAR wuz Si, thar wuz Hi, thar wuz 
Alicand Dan; 
Martha, S}^manthy, Matilda an' Fan, 
Eliza, Mirand}^, an' Flora an' Belle, 
An' they all got along most uncom- 
monly well, 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

Somehow or 'nother Ike never could work, 
Didn't cotton to nothin' exceptin' to shirk. 
All of Sprague's boys an' his gals had some spunk. 
An' he bragged that none on 'em nobody could 
skunk, 

'Ceptin' Ike, 

Thar wuz Si, could split rails, an' Dan he could 

mow. 
Thar wuz Alic could harvest, an' Hi he could hoe; 
Martha, Matildy an" Fan could spin yarn 
An' every one on 'em could work on the farm, 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

So old Sprague allowed how as Ike wuz no good, 
He wouldn't fetch water, he couldn't split wood; 



66 JIM marshai^l's new pianner 

He'd hide in the barn an' be readin' a book — 
You could find all the others whenever you'd look, 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

Mother Sprague she would scold, an' old Sprague, 

he would cuss, 
An' swear Ike must work, or must go an' do wuss. 
Fur he warn't goin to harbor a book readin' drone, 
An' they all had to work to help keep up the home, 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

So Ike packed his budget an' bid 'em good bye! 
An' he started for town with a tear in his eye — 
Old Sprague allowed of the city he'd tire, 
As all of the gals and boys sot 'roimd the fire, 

Ceptin' Ike. 

Wal 'twas more'n five years after Ike had lit out. 

No one ever hearn of what he wuz about. 

Some 'lowed he wuz dead, some believed him in 

jail; 
An' no one once doubted in all things he'd fail, 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

The gals they all married; the boys settled down. 
Some on 'em kept farmin'. an' some moved to town. 
Old Sprague an' his wife they wuz left all alone; 
Each one of their children had moved to their home, 

'Ceptin Ike. 

One day Sprague wuz readin' about a big ball 
To welcome a Senator at the town hall. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



67 




68 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

His name it wuz Sprague — S — p — R — a — g — u — E; 
An' he thought of all men of that name that could 
be; 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

But he made up his mind, if it cost him a leg, 
That he'd see that great man that the papers called 

Sprague. 
So he harnessed old Bess, into town he wuz whirled, 
A-thinkin' of all of the Spragues in the world; 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

An' when he walked into the door of the hall, 
An' saw all the big bugs dressed up for the ball, 
He crowded along this great statesman to see, 
Ole Sprague liked to fainted, fur who should it be 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

''My boy! my poor Ike," ole Sprague hollered out 

loud. 
The Senator, elbowed his way through the crowd, 
An' he hugged the ole man just the minit he spoke, 
An' all the fine folks thought the thing was a joke, 

'Ceptin' Ike. 

That night Ike he told his ole mother an' dad 

Of all of the ups an' the downs that he'd had. 

How he'd worked an* bought books, how he'd study 

an' read, 
An' no one once thought he would ever succeed, 

'Ceptin' Ike. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



69 



Ike's got just as fur as he ever can climb. 
He sits up in the senate, an' draws his per diem. 
All the rest of Sprague'sboysan' his gals jog along, 
But none of 'em's mentioned in story or song, 

~ 'Ceptin' Ike. 




yo JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 7 1 




HORSE PHILOSOPHY, 

E ancient Car horse stood at the 

curb, adown Fourth Avenue. 
Awaiting his turn to take up again, 

the burden of I^ife anew, 
And he pondered and mused on 

the problem, of Hfe from whichever side it 

was viewed, 
And he marveled much at His Master, man, and his 

base ingratitude, 
They tell us that man is a master mind and the 

acme of all that's grand, 
The noblest work of a noble world, that the great 

Creator planned. 
If this is true as I'd fain believe, then why am I 

here to-day, 
To work and sweat and to worry and fret, my poor 

old life away. 
When I was young I was called high strung, and 

could go at a lively pace, 
I carried a Jock to the winning post in many a 

hard fought race, 
I was petted, caressed, extolled and blessed by 

men both young and old. 
For I was the fastest in the field, and have won my 

weight in gold. 



72 JIM MARSHAIX'S NEW PIANNER 

I remember the day at Louisville, when I won the 

Handicap, 
There wasn't a horse in all the field but me, upon 

the map, 
And the Brooklyn cup with a fortune up I ran it 

in splendid style. 
And I took first place in the Gloucester race. 
And carried away the pile. 
At the mystic down in Boston, the Twin City Park 

out west , 
At the Hawthorne track in Chicago I have proved 

myself the best. 
I was called the King and the Emperor, was show- 
ered with flowers and fame, 
But this was before I was broken down, and a loser 

in life's game. 
There came a day, a fatal day, the track was heavy 

and I, 
Well I was not in any form so ill that I feared I'd die, 
But the money was up and I had to start though 

I carried the world on my back. 
And 1 11 never forget how I labored and sweat, 

around that old mile track. 
I lost of course and from that day on I have never 

known renown, 
I dropped from a King to a nameless thing, worn 

out and broken down. 
Next day I was sold to a milk mati old, who thought 

me strong and stout 
And I learned the door of each house and store, as 

I drew the cans about. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 73 

Next a garbage cart in the City Mart, I drew from 

door to door, 
And next I came to the street car man to toil for 

evermore, 
I sometimes wonder and ponder as I see upon the 

street, 
The faces of some old sports that it has been my 

luck to meet. 
If ever they recognize in me here broken down and 

old. 
The Gilding Young who was fit to run for twice his 

weight in gold. 
And I notice that some look downcast and some of 

them ga}^ and bright 
And some are moody and silent as if things warn't 

just right. 
And mayhap they have their troubles too, as well 

as a horse like me, 
Though this is a thought that has never occurred 

in my horse philosophy. 
But my life has taught me one grand truth that's 

not to balk or shirk, 
For what you have been doesn't count as long as 

you cannot work. 
And the yesterday is forgotten in the race of the 

bright to-day, 
And you cannot depend upon what you've been. 

you must always play or pay. 
But when I repine for the olden time and bemoan 

my fate as hard, 
I am better to be drawing car than a ca.se for the 
old boneyard. 



74 



JIM MARSHALIv'S NEW PIANNER 



I have this, its true to look forward to 

That thoughts of gloom dispel, 

That when I'm called on to cash in I've did my duty 

well, 
And this advice I give to man and its all that I have 

to give. 
Be honest and true in whatever you do as long as 

you may live, 
Your place is kept and it will wait, believe me this 

is true, 
And try to do to others as you'd have them do to 

you. 
Remember that no star is lost that 3-ou might once 

have seen. 
Remember that you always may be what you might 

have been. 
No matter what 3 our task in life be sure you never 

shirk, 
Hallo, here comes my driver and I must be off to 

work. 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



75 



THAT QUELNc 




HE Judge was a Christian, and played 
on the square, 
But he figured the cards pretty close ! 
He could call off your hand every time 
to a pair, 
And lay down a " full 'when he chose. 

The Colonel could play a more difficult game, — 

I don't mean to say he would cheat, 
But he held the top card when the big betting came, 

And some hands that couldn't be beat. 

Coming home from Chicago the two chanced to 
meet — 

They were very old friends — on the cars; 
And as neither the other at poker could beat. 

They played euchre, five points, for cigars. 

The cards ran along pretty evenly, too. 
Till the Judge turned a moment his head, 

When the Colonel, in shuffling, slipped the deck 
through 
And the Judge cut a cold one instead, 



76 JIM MARSHALL vS NEW PIANNER 

Twas euchre, of course; but the Judge was amazed, 

When he lifted four kings in a lump; 
But the Colonel, not seeming a particle dazed, 

Turned up a red queen for a trump. 
" You say — do you pass, Judge?" the Colonel called 
out; 

" lyook here," said the limb of the law, 
■' I've mighty queer cards; if you're in for a bout, 

We'll play this one hand out at draw." 

The Colonel considered and wriggled his neck — 

" I, too, have a very odd hand; 
If you'll give me that queen from the top of the 
deck. 

We'll play out the cards as they stand." 

" Agreed," said the Judge, for he saw at a glance 
The Colonel had one of two things — 

A full, or four queens, and he hadn't a chance 
To rake the pot down from four kings. 

The Judge chipped with fifty, the Colonel came 
back; 

The Judge answered him with a raise; 
Of the bets the two made I could never get track. 

But they piled up, like gals in a chaise. 

At last says the Judge, " Here, I'm hunting no 
more — 
Four kings; reach us over that pot." 
" Hold on," says the Colonel, " I, too, have found 
four, 
And they're four little aces I've got." 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



77 



The Judge took the cards and looked over them 
well, 
Fetched a breath from his trousers' waistband — 
" Well, what I'd like to know just now is, what in 

h— 11 
The queen had to do with that hand." 




78 JIM MARSHALI.S NKW PIANNER 




AND OTHKR STORIKS 79 



NO OPEININC.-WRITE AGAIN, 

A THEJATRICAL AGENT'S STORY. 



[NoTK. — This Story is told by an agent to an 
actor when he calls for his letters at the office.] 




|0 you read my " Not in the Pro- 
gramme," eh ? 
You liked it? Oh, of course. 
- Profesh could understand its points, 
And I fancy some are worse. 
'Twas a true story, badly told, my boy, 

More like a novel old. 
But it winds up good, and that's the 
Bright side of the story told. 

Here's two letters and a card 

That came for you to-day. 
I hope they bring good news, my boy, 

With an opening, right away. 
So while you break the seals and read, 

I'll write this "ad" up here. 
I wish that " biz " would pull up a bit. 

For things look devilish queer. 



8o JIM MARSHALI^'S NEW PIANNKR 

There was poor Jim Rhodes, the heavy man, 

He was in here twice last night; 
But that piece ain't on at the Standard — 

If it was, he'd be all right. 
And there's I^a Dieux, she's been here too; 

It's tough with her, poor soul; 
An invalid mother at home to nurse, 

And no wealth to get food or coal. 

Theatrical agencies are no good; 

Why! two or three years ago, 
When I went in the biz, graft was immense, 

But it's different now, you know. 
I've got more people booked, my boy, 

Than could play a week in a year, 
And fill each minstrel hall and 

Each variety theatre here. 

What! kicking again? Well, what's up now? 

Bad news — I see it plain. 
From Shelby, eh, and Stetson, too. 

" No opening — write again." 
The same old story, you say. Oh, pshaw ! 

See here, what would you do 
If you had a wife and kids to feed 

And no snap for a month or two ? 

Why, bless you, I knew a poor fellow once, 

It was only a year or two — 
Just give me a light while I fill the old pipe, 

And I'll tell the story for you. 



AND OTHER STORIES 

There's nothing doing at all to-day, 

So we'll just chat awhile, 
And then we'll take a skip down town 

And indulge in a friendly smile. 

It was only a year or two ago. 

As I have said before, 
When ' ' Tony ' ' was on the Bowery, 

And Karl Klein, he kept next door; 
While Poole was down at the Comique, 

And things with us were fair, 
I was sitting, one morning early, 

Right here in this very chair. 

When a fellow I knew — an actor, too. 

Not one who deals in cheek. 
Or one of those Talma' d Romeos 

For six and a half per week, 
But a scholar and a gentleman — 

Came in at that very door. 
With a woe-begone and weary look 

I never saw before. 
" Why, what's the matter, George?" I said. 

For I noticed, right away. 
That something had gone wrong with him; 

" You're looking glum to-day; 
Wife and the kids all well, I hope." 

He smiled a ghastly smile, 
-But I noticed a sharp twitching 

Of the under lip the while. 

" Come in, old man, come in," I said; 
" I've half an hour to spare, 



32 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

I want to chat about the times — 

Be seated — have a chair. 
The postman will be in here soon; 

His calls of late, it seems, 
Are like Pat Rooney's serial tales, 

Quite ' few and far between.' 

" What's that ? 'Twas Campbell wrote that line. 

But then, of course, you know 
That plagiarists are cheeky chaps — 

At least I find them so; 
Originals are not so thick 

Just at this very time, 
As Beautiful Snow's authors, or 

The poets who wrote ' Crime.' " 
He studied and then asked me 

If "I'd anything to do 
For him." He hadn't worked a tap 

For near a month or two. 
And when he spoke of the folks at home, 

I pledge my word to you 
It kind of made me weaken. 

But what was I to do ? 

I told him to drop in again 

In perhaps a day or so. 
And something might turn up — of course 

To brace him up, you know. 
But I noticed something curious 

In the look of his bright eye, 
And when I said good-afternoon, 

He answered me. " Good-by." 



AND OTHER STORIES 83 

When he'd goue out I turned my thoughts 

To business right away, 
I had some correspondence 

With customers that day. 
But somehow — it's d — d funny, 

I scarce can tell you why — 
Instead of ending with ' ' Truly Yours, ' ' 

I'd Wind up with " Good-by." 

Did you ever have a feeling 

That things wasn't just in place 
A kind of idea that your 

" Nut had got off its ' kerbase' ?" 
Well, so it was with me that day. 

No matter how I'd try 
To keep from thinking how George looked 

When he said to me " Good-by." 

It was no use — I ' * piked ' ' around, 

I couldn't do a thing; 
I couldn't read, I couldn't write, 

I couldn't talk or sing, 
So I put on my hat and coat, and 

Said I to myself, 
" I'll go 'cross town and hunt George out 

And I'll spare him a little wealth." 

Now Brother De Witt Talmage said that 

Actors never could 
Sneak in at the gate of heaven 

Or do a bit of good. 



84 JIM MARSHALI^'S NEW PIANNER 

But De Witt, he ain"t acquainted yet, 
For I know some of the boys. 

Who do a good thing once in a while 
And don't make any noise. 

But that's nothing to my story and 

De Witt is not my style; 
You let him alone and he'll come home, 

I reckon, after a while. 
If he don't — why, I sha'nt worry, for he 

Would not go in 
To ' ' the little church round the corner, ' ' 

If you or I " cashed in." 

Well, to proceed: I went 'cross town, to 

A place perhaps you know, 
A tenement house in Chrystie Street, 

In a place called " Lover's Row," 
I climbed up three long flights of stairs, 

And at last I reached the door. 
And I knocked, with a dread feeling 

I never felt before. 

I knocked again, no answer came, 

I listened — all was still, 
And over my whole being there crept 

A deathly chill, 
I called aloud— "the neighbors came — 

We bursted in the door; 
We entered, and the man I sought 

Was kneeling on the floor. 



AND OTHER vSTORIES. 

His wife and little children were 

Stretched upon the bed, 
And close beside their wasted forms 

This actor kneeling — dead. 
Dead of a broken heart, because 

That wife and little babes 
Had starved in this great city, 

With no friendly hand to aid. 

" Dead of a broken heart '" — good God 

Can such things ever be. 
In this great heaving, throbbing world, 

And no one there to see ? 
They say, old man, that there is One, 

Who " notes the sparrow's fall," 
Whose loving eye is ever on the 

Sinner, saint and all. 

There was a postal card beside him, 

I stooped and picked it up. 
It told the old, old story — 

It had overrun the cup; 
For on one side I read the actor's 

Residence and name, 
And on the other were these words, 

" No opening — write again, * 

A little ray of sunshine stole 

Athwart the attic floor, 
lyighting the tear-stained faces of 

The neighbors round tlie door. 



86 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNKR 

Gilding the silken tresses of the 

lyittle folks he loved, 
Alike unto a messenger from 

That bright home above. 

They'd gone away from us, old man, 

Up to that good old home, 
Up to the One who bade us 

" Suffer little ones to come:" 
To that bright land where there's no more 

Of sorrow, care and pain, 
To a manager who never said, 

" No opening — write again." 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



87 




^M^doaH^ 



To "Jack" Cor win, 

OF THE 

"Chicago Tribune." 



Come and sit beside me Johnny, 
I have something I would say, 
That, perhaps, may interest you. 
Throw that cigarette away ! 
I will tell a little story 
Of a man, well known to fame, 
Who eschewing all vain glory, 
Almost canonized his name. 



88 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

Martin L^uther, saith the legend, 
Seated in his study grim, 
Conning some old Biblic story 
When Old Nick appeared to him, 
Neither gun or pistol had he 
To oppose the one he feared, 
So he threw the inkstand at him. 
And the Devil disappeared. 

Now, my boy, just take this lesson 
To your heart, and hold it fast. 
Fight the Devil with the inkstand, 
Take my word, he cannot last. 
Every ill and every evil. 
Every falsehood, every lie. 
Can be vanquished like the Devil, 
With the inkstand, if you'll try. 

Never mind the dynamiters, 
L,et the Czar of Russia die. 
Tyranny still makes the exile 
In Siberian dungeon lie. 
Anarchists are idiotic, 
Teach them what they are about ; 
Throw the inkstand at 'em Johnny, 
It will surely knock 'em out. 

Let historians boast of Nero, 
And on Caesar's fame descant, 
Edison's a greater hero 
Than a Sherman, or a Grant. 



AND OTHER STORIKS. 

I'hey, but freed the slave for glory, 
His will be a grander goal, 
Children learn by song and story 
How to free the mind and soul. 

Printer's ink and education, 
Tinged with irony and song, 
Sap away the strong foundation 
Of each monumental wrong. 
Make intelligence your motto. 
Never mind the shot or shell. 
Throw the inkstand at 'em Johnny, 
Cut 'er loose, and give 'em h — 1. 



89 




90 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 9 1 



"TWO LITTLE BUSTED SHOES." 

A TOUCH OF NATURE. 

S'^'^^HE Orleans Club at Jimtown,* Colo- 
rado, '92, 
-;-5, Was a joint where you could play all 
^ games from a split up to a blue. 

And the gang that hung around the 
club I'll say, 'twixt you and me, 
Would hardly cut a figure at a Methodist Pink Tea- 
There was "Big Ed Burns," and "Crazy Horse," 

"Jim Sanford," "Windy Dick," 
"Tom Kady," the shell juggler, "Joe Palmer,'' 

pretty slick, 
"Joe Simmons, who could deal the bank and never 

lose a check, 
"Pete Burns,'' "Jim Bolen," and "Jeff Smith," all 
high cards in the deck. 

It was in the gray of morning, and the heterogeni- 

ous gang 
Sat worrying the barkeeper with nonsense, guff and 

slang; 
All "kidding,'' "chaffing," "guying," ina smooth, 

good natured way, 
About the incidental bosh that happened yesterday. 



*The lower end of Creede Caiup was called Jimtown. 



92 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

Sometimes (in easy tilted chair one of them d try 

to snooze, 
And then someone would "loosen up and order up 

the booze," 
Some break -of -day boy would come in and give the 

bar boy "guff," 
And learn without politeness that he'd "have to 

have the stuff." 

Then one of them would tell the tramp to "go and 

soak his head," 
And say if he "drank water he'd be found some 

morning dead. ' ' 
Theyd ask him why he didn't send to papa for a 

check 
So he could purchase barb wire booze to lubricate 

his neck, 

And after they had kidded him until he couldn't talk. 
They'd fill him up with Red E^^e and tell him to 

take a ' 'walk. ' ' 
Not by any means bad fellows, but they loved a 

little lark. 
And they'd give up to the needy quicker than a 

gospel shark. 
I happened in one morning to investigate my trunk; 
I'd left it in the barroom, for I slept up in a bunk. 
For sleeping berths were limited, and I could name 

a few 
Who have stood up in the corner in Jimtown in '92. 

Pete Burns remarked: "Get on to him; since he 
stopped getting drunk, 



AND OTHER STORIES 93 

He's saved up all his money for a Saratoga trunk?" 
And they gathered 'round me each of them, with 

laughter, josh and kid, 
To investigate m>' wardrobe when I opened up the 

lid. 

It happenea now that "Jersey" (ye see "Jersey" is 

my wife, 
And no man ever had a better partner in his life), 
But "Jersey" when she packed the trunk before 

she closed the lid 
Had just thrown in a souvenir to 'mind me of the kid. 

And as each fellow cranes his neck the first thing 
that he views 

Is two tiny little stockings and two little busted 
shoes. 

Right here on top they rested and in fancy seemed 
to say 

"Now, papa, don't forget us when you're wander- 
ing far away. 

Not a single word was uttered by the gang that 

stood around. 
And I knew that I the secret to each great rough 

heart had found. 
And I knew that each was thinking in the early 

morning gray 
Of their wives and little darlings who were praying 

far away. 

Praying for those great rough fellows who would 
give their very life 



94 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNKR 

That those wives and Httle children might be spared 

all pain and strife, 
Might never know adversity or what it was to lose 
The father, who would purchase them those little 

busted shoes. 

I knew their thoughts in retrospect, flew o'er the 

western plain. 
To their patient wives and little ones they might 

not see again. 
And I knew the violet splendor of the hills whereon 

they roam, 
Was mingling with the unshed tears for little ones 

at home. 

Not a single jest was ventured, not a word was 

spoken loud. 
As a flood of golden sunshine poured it's glory o'er 

the crowd. 
Could an old and master painter touched his palette's 

varied hues, 
He'd have gathered inspiration from those little 

busted shoes. 

I said they were not bad men, and I mean just 

what I say, 
And I hope that I may meet them all upon some 

future day, 
May meet them where no memories may conjure up 

the blues, 
With their little ones around them wearing little 

busted shoes. 



AND OTHKR STORIES 



95 



I closed the lid and locked it, hardly knowing what 

I did, 
But each seemed to breathe the freer when those 

little shoes were hid: 
Some one said "let's irrigate," each to the bar drew 

near. 
And seemingly each hand went up to dash away a 

tear. 

The glasses clinked, adown the bar the bottle 

passed along. 
And "Big Ed Burns" proposed that we should have 

a toast or song, 
But after each had filled his glass with "Old Mc- 

brayer Booze," 
We drank to wives and children and those little 

busted shoes. 
CrKEde Camp, Colorado, March 8, 1892. 




96 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PLANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 97 



TEN MILE OR BUST. 



A IvONG WAY AFTER LONGFEEEOW. 




|"^*'/HK shades of eve were falling fast, 
As up through I^eadville village 

passed, 
A "Mick" who bore through mud 
and vice, 
A hickor>' shirt, with this device, 
"Ten mile or bust." 

His hat was slouched, he'd one cock eye, 
That "piped off" every passer-by. 
The bootblack shouted "have a shine?" 
The "Mick" replied, "111 hunt a mine," 
"Ten mile or bust." 

Beware the pine tree's withered branch. 
Beware a "deadfall ', called Chalk Ranch, 
Was "Hoodoo Brown's," last good night, 
The "Mick" replied, far up the height, 
"Ten ir.ile or bust.' 



98 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

The dance house girl said, "stay and try 
A Httle glass of Dance House Rye, 
I'll be your Darling Dear Gazelle." 
The "Mick" replied, ' Oh go to —well," 
"Ten mile or bust." 

Next morning as the "Ten mile stage," 
Was going up the "Narrow Guage" 
A hickory shirt hung on a rail. 
With these words painted on the tail, 
"Ten mile or bust." 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



99 




Buy Roger! Why, stranger, jer crazy, 

Yer a little bit off yer kerbase ; 
That dog is a regular dais}^ 

He's got the first place in the race. 
He's travelled the kentry all over, 

From Dodge City down to the sea. 
An' thar ain't enough dust in 3'er trousers 

To purchase old Roger from me. 

Do ye know what he done? Well, I'll tell )er, 
What, drink! I don't care if I do. 

Straight pizen (here's how), but to sell yer 
My dog, that's too cursed bran new. 



XJ JIM MAKSHAL,!. S NEW PIANNER 

When Big Kd Silk, that was my pardiier, 
Was runnin' a place in the mines, 

An' grubbin' like blazes to keep up 
His end, in some cursed hard times ; 

We'd bin up all night in the dance hall, 

An' closed up the shanty all hunk. 
We'd took our last "ball" in the mornin' 

An' each tumbled into his bunk ; 
We'd forgot all our joy and our sorrow. 

Each was snoozin' as sweet as a lamb, 
Not a thinkin' of trouble to-morrow. 

An' none on us carin' a d — n; 

When a racket wuz raised in the castle, 

As if all the devils in hell 
Had thundered around tlie old Bastile, 

And dropped in upon us, pell mell; 
But I was so sleepy fromboozin',— 

For the licker'd got into my head, 
That I couldn t be woke from ni}^ snoozin' 

Till Roger .sprung onto the bed. 

With a yell like the scream of a human 

He tore off the clothes with a roar, 
An" nailin' me right by the collar 

He tumbled me on the floor. 
I grabbed for my shooter — confound me, 

I staggered. Ole man, I'm no liar, 
The roof an' the walls all around me 

War blazin' with seethin' red fire. 



AND OTHER STORIES. lOI 

With a howl (like a wounded hyena) 

He sprang through a hole iu the wall, 
An' I followed blindly behind him, 

Each minnit' expectin' to fall. 
Right thro' where the smoke was the thickest, 

Barkin' loudly the whole of the way, 
Went Roger; I'll never forget it. 

If I live till the great judgment day. 

We'd just cleared the front, I an' Roger, 
When ia fell the roof with a crash, 

That sounded as if "Hell's half acre'' 
Had tumbled upon us kermash; 

An' Roger was prancin' around me. 

With a look just ez much as to say, 

" Ole man, if I hadn't hev found ye. 
The turn would come Jack Box, to-day." 

Since then we've been pardners together, 

Some days we get wheat, and some chaff, 
But whether its chicken or feathers. 

Old Roger's entitled to half. 
Ask Batt Masterson or Jean Johnson 

If " Roge " knows the lay of the land. 
He can find ev'ry Appache Tepee, 

From Tombstone to the Rio Grande. 

An' if ' ' tenderfoot ' ' should abuse Roger 
When one of " the gang " is in sight. 

Take my word for it, stranger, that codger 
Had better get ready to fight. 

Not a place from the worst to the finest, 



I02 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

A hotel, a shanty, or ranche, 
From the San Juan down to Guynias, 
But Roger hez got a carte blcDiche. 



I've seen many friends in my travels, 

Some friends whom the world would call game, 
But the friendship of my old dog Roger 

Vv^ould put all the others to shame. 
They weaken when sorrow and trouble 

Comes on you — they are not true blue. 
But, stranger, right thar is a pardner 

Who'll stick through it all staunch an' true. 

vSo put up yer " leather " thar, Ole Man, 

An' hoist in some licker with me. 
I've prospected from Butte, Montana, 

Plum down thro' to old Santa Fe, 
An' thar ain't a man in the whole kentry, 

No matter how much he would give, 
Could purchase my dog thar, old Roger, 

(Here's to 3'er) as long as I live. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



103 




AN oij) gambler's soliloquy on a dirty card. 



Mud-Stained and torn, iipou the sidewalk lying-, 
Stripped of the beauty of your regal parts, 

Yet still the old whirl of fortune's wheel defying, 
I find this morn the tattered queen of hearts. 



I04 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

Where now (I wonder) are your old companions, 

The fifty-one inseparable friends — 
In beer saloons, or Rocky Mountain canons, 

At sea, or at the earth's remotest ends? 

Like Israel's tribe, they're tossed about and scat- 
tered. 

Even the very kings might prove unclean. 
But you, old queen of hearts, tho' mud-bespattered. 

Every moment prove yourself a queen. 

Who knows but sometimes jeweled fingers shuffled 
The pack in which you held a solid place; 

Who knows what placid tempers j^ou have ruffled 
At whist, b}^ trumping an obtrusive ace. 

And when the higher honors all were hoarded. 
And you were queen indeed of all the pack, 

How proudly did you take the last trick boarded, 
How like a woman did you win the Jack! 

And then, how fondly was your face regarded 
By him who first beheld the crimson blush 

Of you, when he had doubtingly discarded 
A spade, and drawn to hearts to "fill a flush." 

And then, they say that cards are Evil's marrow, 
And card players sometimes commit a sin. 

But you, old girl — yes, you, when turned to faro. 
You sometimes caused "stack of blues" to win. 

I might recall the evenings blithe and merry 
We passed beneath the sparkling chandelier; 

You plaj^ed high up with rouge et noir and sherry, 
But you drooped at last to pinochle and beer. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



105 



And then, ah! well, no sermon need I utter, 
Enough to know you lost your winning arts, 

And poor and helpless sank into the gutter 
lyike many other luckless queen of hearts. 




A TRAGEDY. 

IN ONE ACT. 

THE Spring poet entered the sanchitn. 
He prated of flowers and doves, 
The editor, toyed with the dumb bells, 
And fondled the boxing gloves. 
The "Devil" unchained the yaller dog, 
The "compositor" loaded the gun, 
The casket cost fifteen dollars 
And the funeral occurs at one. 



106 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNKR 



(( 











AND OTHER STORIES I07 




THAT BEAUTIFUL SNOW. 

A PARODY. 

H the snow, that beautiful snow," 
That flies in your face, wherever you 

go, 
That's twisted and whirled in some 
' ' dizzy ' ' old street 
Till it blinds your poor eyes and freezes 3'our feet. 
It's all very fine, that " beautiful snow," 
If you've cash in your pocket and somewhere to go. 
But the poet was born in summer, I know. 
That finds something pretty in " beautiful snow." 

" Beautiful," is it? Humph ! " Beautiful snow," 
When " it falls on a sinner, nowhere to go." 
It seems to me. now (I'm a practical man, 
I'm no love-sick damsel or innocent lamb. 
Therefore I cannot be expected, you know. 
To stand on my head about " beautiful snow ") — 
It seems to me, now, that this sucker should go 
And bury himself in his " beautiful snow." 

" Beautiful " is it, eh? — " beautiful snow," 
The thermometer just ten degrees below. 
Your overcoat " hocked," not a cent in your "kick,'' 
And " beautiful snow " till you can't see a brick 



io8 



JIM marshaIvL's new pianner 



In the sidewalks, around in some ' ' tart ' ' country 

town, 
And that " beautiful snow " is still coming down. 
Why, if I had a room with a fire all aglow, 
I could envy the ' ' crank ' ' who wrote ' ' Beautiful 

Snow. ' ' 

" Beautiful snow from the heaven above, 

Pure as an angel, gentle as love." 

I wish they would keep it in heaven, not throw 

vSo much down on earth of that " beautiful snow." 

Gentle as love ? how can they say so; 

See how it sticks, it never will go. 

March, April and May may come and may go, 

And still we'll be blessed with d d "beautiful 

snow." 






'mmi'H 










v,.^,..yiMi&-'- 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



109 



«« 



JEFF AND JOE." 



A TRUE INCIDENT 

OF 

CREEDE CAMP, COLORADO. 




NOWED Joe Simmons? Course 
I did. 
Knowed him 'fore he up an' sUd 
'Cross the range that blustery day. 
Did he slide ? Well I should say ! 
Not the way you mean it, though, 
Up the hill we toted Joe, 
An' we laid him neath the rocks. 
Death had called the turn, " Jack Box." 
'Fore he cashed in Jeff Smith come, 
Asked if nothin" could be done. 
Jeff, yer see, thought well of Joe — 
Knowed him thirty years or so, 



no JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

Pal'd together down below. 
Joe liked Jeff and Jeff liked Joe, 
An' through all the changin' years, 
Sheered each other's smiles and tears. 

"Worked together, tooth and nail, 
Punchin' cattle up the trail ; 
Dealt the old thing; tackled bluff; 
Each one blowed the other's stuff, 
An' when one got in the hole, 
T'other just dug up the roll. 
So the gang all come to know 
Joe liked Jeff an' Jeff liked Joe. 

When the big excitement came 
Every man that played a game, 
Square or sure, that could succeed. 
Packed his grip and went to Creede. 
Gamblers, miners, suckers, marks, 
Spieler, niacers, bunco sharks, 
Men of money, men of greed — 
Every one fetched up in Creede. 
An' with all this human show 
To the front came Jeff and Joe, 
Opened up the " Orleans Club," 
Slept on tables, cooked their grub. 
An' commenced to " cop the dough,'' 
Till old Death showed up for Joe. 
Jeff dropped in to see the end 
Of his staunch old pal an' friend. 
For, yer see, he wished to know 
The last wishes of poor Joe. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 

" Hallo, Joe, yer gainin' ground," 
Jeff remarked, a lookin' round, 
But Joe answered : ' ' Yes, the change 
Soon' 11 take me 'cross the range. 
But, old pal, before I go 
Just you answer, 5'es or no, 
If I ever throwed a friend, 
Didn t I stay to the end 
Through the toughest of the tough? 
Did I ever take a bluff ? 
Did I, through my whole life long. 
Ever do a friend a wrong ? 
Ever treat a poor cuss mean ? 
Haint I anteed my last bean ? 
Can you show me airy place 
Where I weakened in the race ? 
Tell me, Jeff — my race is run. ' 
And Jeff answered: " Nary one." 

" Well,'' said Joe, " I m glad of that; 
It comes easy to stand pat. 
When 5^ou know that you ve done right. 
Even Death itself looks bright. 
So, old bo3% don't preach or pray; 
Keep the gospel sharks away — 
It's no use to call them late 
Just to boost me through the gate. 
IvCt the boys just gather 'round 
When I am planted in the ground. 
From each bottle knock the neck, 
Fill each glass with Pommery Sec; 



112 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANM:*.! 

Let each staunch friend drink this toast: 

' Here's to old Joe Simmons' ghost !' 

In hereafter, if there be 

Such a place for 3'ou and me, 

lyct the gang, all hand in hand, 

A Jol^Yj good an' jovial band, 

Open out, an' all in line. 

Sing together ' Auld Lang Syne.' " 

Jeff said: " Joe, it shall be done." 

And Joe answered: "Let her come !" 

Ma^^be 3'ou don't think that we 
Kept in all sincerity 
Jeff's last promise to poor Joe ! 
Up the hill through blinding snow 
Came the wagon with the box. 
Up the mountain, 'round the rocks, 
John Keneavy, Hugh Mohan 
An' old boy Jeff led the van; 
Up the mountain, through the snow, 
Till they reached the grave of Joe. 
There, with heads uncovered all, 
Jeff Smith opened up the ball 
An' asked if anybody there 
Could say Joe Simmons wasn't square, 
Or ever yet a wrong had done 
To friend. All answered: " Nary one." 

" Well," Jeff replied, "This is the end 
Of old Joe Simmons, my best friend. 
I promised him I'd do my best. 
An' with the gang lay him to rest. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 



113 



Now fill your glasses, fall in line, 
An' sing ' The Days of Auld Lang Syne.' '' 
They drank an' sang. The pure white snow 
Fell softly on the grave of Joe. 




'^^^m iAG'!^ a-^y'wi^ 



An' as for Jeff — well, I may say. 
No better man exists to-day. 
I don' t mean good the way you do — 
No, not religious — only true. 
True to himself, true to his friend; 
Don't quit or weaken to the end. 
An' I can swear, if any can, 
That Jeff will help his fellow man. 
An' here I thank him — do 3'ou see ? 
]?or kindness he has shown to me. 



114 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

All' this I'll say, when all is o'er, 
An' Jeff has crossed to t'other shore, 
I only hope that you and me 
May stand as good a chance as he. 

The big Book says — that is I think 
It says — that ' ' whoso giveth drink 
And food to even one of these," 
The Saviour he is sure to please. 
An' sky-pilots say this is so, 
But then, of course, I do not know 
That either they or I can learn 
A sinner how to call the turn. 
But this I do know, every time, 
(An' you can bet I'm dead in line,) 
That whoso giveth up his pelf 
For charity will please himself. 
I've heard it said, time and agin, 
That charity can cover sin. 
But then, of course, I do not know 
If this applies to Jeff an' Joe. 
I know that I'm a wicked chap 
Of course, an' I don't care a rap 
About these Christians — do you see ? — 
That's catalogued as " Pharisee," 
Or who repent on the last day, 
Then get their wings and soar away. 
I'd rather (if I was allowed) 
Fall in with the poor sinners' crowd. 
I am not stvick on those that teach, 
Or who don't practice what they preach. 



AND OTHER STORIKS. II5 

No man can tell me where 1 11 go 
When I cash in my checks, and so 
I know that I am prone to sin 
But when I*m called on to cash in 
I hope I'll have an equal show 
With sinners just like Jeff an' Joe. 

Creede Camp, Colorado, March 27th, 1892. 




ri6 JIM MARSHALL'S XEW PIANNER 




V '" 



P. O. E. 



AND OTHER STORIKS. II 7 



B. P. 0. E. 

B. P. O. E. , what a great world of meaning 
Contained in these letters, to each one who knows 
The power of affection, the great depth of feeling, 
The good to the world, which these trifles disclose. 
How they shed the sunshine through the invalid's 

window. 
They comfort the mother, the sister and wife, 
And soften the grief of the widow and orphan. 
Who seem to have given up more than their life. 

B. P. O. E., who is there that's not welcome 
To join in their sports, at reception or ball, 
And who has not met a beneficent greeting. 
At the Sunday night socials within their old hall ? 
Who (ere he went home in the grey of the morning) 
Has stood 'round the room in that glittering line. 
And — cordially grasping the hand of a brother. 
Has echo'd the chorus of dear "Auld Eang Syne ?" 

B. P. O. E., who has stood in the circle 
With glass in his hand, in that stately old hall. 
And tossed oflf a bumper "To Our Absent Brothers, ' ' 
But felt that (in spirit) he was with them all, 
That the souls of the dear ones we love most to 
honor, 



Il8 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

The absent ones, far o'er the billowy sea, 

The sister, or wife of some dear absent brother, 

Was blessing that talisnien, B. P. O. E. 

B. P. O. E., a bright halo of glory 

Surrounds the Elk Antlers, thy escutcheon's claim, 

And the deeds of thy brothers are echo'd in story, 

From the Pacific slope to the old State of Maine, 

Wherever the weary, the poor, or afflicted. 

Have stretched forth a hand, thou wert ever found 

near. 
To assuage the deep grief of the widow and orphan. 
To soften the heart, and to chasten the tear. 

B. P. O. E. , all the world must applaud you, 
And honor the precept that leads in the van. 
Be upright and noble, no power can withstand you, 
You represent love to your dear brother man. 
And when each shall pass o'er the dark blue y^gean, 
And stand on the shores of yon shimmering sea, 
May the grandest of epitaphs brighten his record, 
Those Hieroglyphics B. P. O. and E. 



And other stories. 119 



CHARITY, JUSTICE, BROTHERLY 
LOVE AND FIDELITY. 

From East to West, from North to South, we gather 

Our loyalty to prove 
To sister, mother, brother, and to father, 

A harbinger of lyove. 
And meeting here within this hall, this evening, 

Abroad we send 
To all mankind, upon the morrow greeting, 

A Brother and a Friend. 

What recks us if the Kings and Queens now 
reigning 

Make pride their boast; 
What recks us if the tyrant. Love disdaining, 

Leans on His host. 
Though all the world, with pride so unrelenting, 

Lead in the van, 
We stand within this Circle, representing 

Man's Brotherhood to Man. 
With Charity to all, go tell the story 

Throughout the world, 



I20 JIM MARSHALL S NEW PIANNER 

That pride of birth , power, wealth, deceit, vainglory, 

To nothingness are hurled, 
We take cognizance of no man's position; 

Our only school 
To gauge the worth of pauper, or patrician, 

Is the Golden Rule. 
And Justice, that blind Goddess, like no other. 

She rules our land, 
Decrees that all the faults of our weak brothers, 

Be written on the sand. 
Their virtues ineffacably written 

On the page of memory, 
Comes to us like the silver sheen of moonlight 

Aslant a summer sea. 
Brotherly Love ! Ah, what a recollection, 

It brings to all 
A grand, far-reaching wealth of pure affection 

Holds us in thrall. 
Fill high the glass, while "Auld Lang Syne " we're 
singing. 

In roundelay; 
And let the toast up to the roof go ringing: 

" Our brothers far away.'' 
Fidelity embraces all the others; 

If each one knew 
And practised that fidelity to others. 

Staunch, firm and true. 
This world would be the better for it, surely 

We'd all be just, 
And in each station that we fill so poorly. 

We'd rule in trust. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 121 

And, Brother, when you leave a Lodge of Sorrow, 

With aching heart, 
And go again within the world to-morrow, 

To play a part, 
Take each with him unto his Httle haven. 

In cot or hall, 
By memory on each faithful heart engraven: 

' ' lyove conquers all. " 

And thou, poor mother, for a lost Elk weeping. 

By sad Atlantic laid. 
Or distant Sacramento, wildly leaping. 

Beneath its orange shade, 
Lament him not, no love can make immortal 

The span of life; 
And never hero entered heavenly portal 

From grander strife. 

And glories greater than heraldic splendors 

His house may claim. 
When Charity shall speak of her defenders 

She'll breathe his name. 




122 JIM MARSH AI^L's NEW PLANNER 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



123 



A CASE EQUAL. 




PARSON and Gambler got in a tangle 
on the increase of crime, and how 
souls could be wrecked, 

gt^l^ While "The Man Up a Tree" didn't 
mix in the wrangle, but listened, 

and thought about cause and effect. 

Each one seemed wrapped up in his own small 
dominion, and neither the other's shortcomings 
could see, 

And each one was righteous, in his own opinion; 

At least so it looked to "The Man Up a Tree." 

"You admit," said the parson, " that gambling is 
vicious, that it leads to suicide, lying and vice. 

That playing at cards is at all times pernicious; 
that its ultimatum by no means is nice. 

While true Christianity, pure and undying, enno- 
bles the earth with its lesson of love, 

And all its disciples, with each other vying, befitting 
themselves for the mansions above." 

"Yes, true Christianity, on the dead levels a 
mighty good game when its plaj^ed on the 
.square, 

But once in a while 3'ou will find that the devil en- 
sconses himself in the 'lyookout's high chair,' 



124 JIM MARSHAI^L'S NEW MANNER 

The barefooted Saviour in charity's labour, I alwaj'S 
admired for his hatred of pelf, 

And this nice little game about loving your neigh- 
bor, why don't you ' stand pat ' on that, Par- 
son, yourself?" 

" I do," said the parson, " I do love my neighbor ; 

I preach the good tidings that God is all love ; 
I send it abroad by my own loving labor, as Noah 

from the ark sent the carrier dove, 
' Be kindly intentioned one toward another with 

brotherly love ' is my favorite text. 
And ' love one another,' we do this, my brother, no 

matter how sorely our souls may be vexed." 

' ' Of course ' Old John Rogers ' was burned for 
affection and 'Old Michael Servitus ' killed just 
for love, 

While ' Joan of Arc ' was another selection in 'paving 
your way to the mansions above.' 

'John Wycliffe,' 'JohnHuss,' and poor old 'Sara 
Dyer,' and 'Scotland's young queen ' was ac- 
cursed by ' John Knox, ' 

And those ' Salem witches ' you burned with slow 
fire — pray was it for love that their turn came 
'Jack-Box?' " 

" Oh, well," said the parson, " mistakes injudicious 
are made in all lands, in old age and in youth." 

"I know,'" said the gambler, " but it is pernicious 
to 'copper the turn, ' that is known as plain truth, 

Don't play 'single out' — give each man his opinion; 
in each of our paths there's a big stumbling block 



A.ND OTHER STORIES. 1 25 

But truth soars above us, ou shadowy pinions, so 
let's play it out, right from ' soda to hoc' 

We're each of us gamblers, while I may play poker, 

and you have your Bible, your sermon and 

'guff,' 
I may win my money by ' hiding the joker,' while on 

human defects you can ' get in your bluff.' 
We're both non-producers, and instead of giving a 

thing to this world it is our little plan 
To calculate how we can each make a living upon 

the defects of our dear brother man. 
This world is a good one, my dear Christian brother, 

if every man does what he thinks is just right. 
All men are created to prey on each other, and no 

man should stand in another man's light; 
Of God's holy love, of the Christian's bright heaven, 

you claim to know all of these good things you 

teach , 
While I am imbued with a little weak leaven, and 

only can practice just what I can preach." 

And each went his way on his life's little mission; 

to ' ' the man up a tree ' ' they were both lost 

to sight. 
Who mused o'er the basis of each proposition ; and 

thought that both Parson and Gambler were 

right. 
If each one in this world would " love one another," 

and neither the other's short-comings could see, 
'Twould all be ' ' case equal ' ' to man and his brother 

— at least so it looks to ' ' the man up a tree. ' ' 



126 



JIM MARSHALL S NEW PIANNER 




OH, WAT T' 'ELL 

PPETITE SAM. 
Not wuth a dam, 
N the gang said, 
" Better be dead." 
Alius 'd shirk 

All kinds of work. 

Regular snooze, 

Punishin' booze; 

But, I don "no, 

Might git a show, 

Never can tell 

Oh! wat t' 'ell. 

Thro' every camp. 
All. called him scamp, 
Duffer 'n cheat. 
Dead on the beat: 
Not a good word 
Ever was heard 
From any man 
'Bout Appetite Sam. 
Old ne'er do well. 
Oh, wat t' ell. 



AND OTHER STORIES. 127 

Once an ole sport, 
Of the right sort — 
Daniels, by name, 
Fly 'n dead game — 
Dropped on the street, 
Used up, dead beat; 
Sam took him home. 
Nursed him alone, 
Treated him well. 
Oh, wat t' 'ell. 

Toted 'm 'round, 
Where one was found, 
You'd see the other, 
Just like a brother. 
Tom Daniels knew 
Sam was true blue; 
Nursed him for years, 
Shared all his tears. 
'N wen Tom died, 
vSam only cried, 
Buried him well. 
Oh, wat t' 'ell. 

Sam can be found 
Wanderin" 'round, 
Silent, alone. 
No friend, no home; 
Walkin' the street. 
Called a ' ' dead beat, ' ' 
"Stiff," ''■ Ne'er do well," 
Oh, wat t' 'ell. 



128 JIM MARSHALL'S NEW PIANNER 

Mebbe, some day, 
Who '11 dare to say, 
Wen the Great One 
Asks wat we've done; 
Wen Pharisees, 
Thicker 'n bees. 
Tell of good deeds. 
Boast of their creeds. 
Appetite Sam 
Says, " Here I am. 
Played out, no good, 
Did best I could." 
Will it be well ? 
Oh, wat t' 'ell. 




AND OTHER STORIES. 



129 



SPOKANE. 




RADLED midst the beryled hills, 
Musical with gushing rills, 
Midway in the Cascade's span 
In her beauty lies Spokane; 
Nature ne'er vouchsafed to one 

Product of our Washington, 

Town or city, known to man, 

Blessings that she did Spokane. 

Speeds the river's silver sheen, 

Onward from the Cceur d'Alene, 

Wildly dashing o'er the span 

Called the falls of Mad Spokane; 

Rushing, gushing, surging wild, 

Fearless, pure and undefiled. 

Dashing, flashing everywhere, 

Playing, spraying here and there; 

Whirling, pearling, hurtling. 

Foamy froth encircling. 

Roaring, pouring, tumbling down, 
Racing, chasing thro' the town. 



130 JIM MARSHAT^L'S new PIANNER. 

Spurning e'en its rocky ban, 

Dancing, prancing, wild Spokane. 

Here the hardy pioneer 

Greets you with a hearty cheer, 

Welcoming the coming man 

To a home in sweet Spokane. 

Here the Siwash — nature's child — 

All untutored, free and wild, 

Wonderingly views each plan 

To embellish sweet Spokane. 

Specimens from everywhere. 

Old and young, false, fair and square, 

Miner, blacksmith, partisan, 

Products cosmopolitan ; 

Here a banker in his bank, 

Here a sage and there a crank, 

All a jumble, rush and jam, 

There you have it — that's Spokane. 




ii-ii^'' 



